CAREGIVING: THE PROS AND CONS
The caregiving industry boomed as the need of people to spend more time at work increased and the capability to take care of aging parents started to bend on the unviable side. The necessity to work and earn money during these hard times greatly influenced the percentage of children not having the time and the energy to take care of their seniors. Thus, more and more families nowadays rely on caregivers to take care of and accompany their elderly loved ones.
Caregivers assist those who have trouble caring for themselves, usually the elderly , in doing personal tasks like taking a bath, keeping the house clean and orderly and sometimes running errands like shopping or going to the grocery. Caregivers also provide medical assistance like making sure that medicines are taken on time or monitoring the vital signs of those patients that have special medical conditions. Assistance in checking appointments with the doctor or other matters important to the patient are also provided since the family members or relatives of the latter are usually living if not on a different house, in a considerable distance.
There are a number of things families may need to look into when hiring a caregiver. First thing they may think about is whether to hire someone from an agency, a caregiving company or hire just another family member. The living arrangement of the patient is also another factor to consider. Is the elderly going to stay in a nursing home or in the comfort of the patient’s house? Budget for the salary or wage for the caregiving service is also a big concern. Although most caregivers are trained and certified to practice their profession, licensed nurses are also preferred to provide care and assistance. The average hourly rate ranges from $ 8 to $12 and yet the more skills a caregiver has, the higher the salary becomes.
Caregiving also has its pros and cons. While family members continue their everyday lives, whether it is at work or in taking care of their own families or children, they are rest assured that their elderly parents’ needs are also provided for. Another advantage is that people who have medical conditions that require constant monitoring like cancer are provided with professional care. We know that it is going to be more beneficial for the patient to be cared for by someone who knows what he or she is doing.
On the other hand, hiring a caregiver or a Family Private Care is also not that easy. Most people who are in the latter years of their life are believed more sensitive that’s why caregivers should have extreme skills in coping. Getting the right person who will provide home care is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Although most caregivers are very professional and reliable, there might just be only a few who are exceptional in what they do. Their capacity to endure stressful situations and their reliability throughout the span of their contracts are very important to ensure that patients will experience satisfactory assistance.
The caregiving trend is continuously increasing as time goes by. It has opened doors not only for those people who need the service but also for those who wanted to have careers in making other people’s lives easier. Yet one must remember though that it is not all right to just depend on caregivers for support. Constant communication and frequent visits to our elderly family members will actually help them enjoy their retirement years.
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